INDUCTIVE REASONING

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INDUCTIVE REASONING

• We reason inductively when we reach a conclusion
  based on the observation of some pattern

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Rapunzel lives in a tower. Her window is 16 feet
above the ground.
16 feet
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Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down thy hair!
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It took exactly one second for the rabbit to land
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The next night,the prince tries again.
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Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down thy hair!
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It took exactly one second for the rabbit to land
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The next night,the prince tries again.
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Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down thy hair!
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It took exactly one second for the rabbit to land
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The same thing happens every night for two weeks
finally...
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Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down thy hair!
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Yet again, it took exactly one second for the
rabbit to fall the 16 feet from Rapunzels window!
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Using my amazing powers of INDUCTIVE REASONING I
conclude that a rabbit under the influence of
gravity falls 16 feet in one second.
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Finally becoming weary of Rapunzel and her
rabbits, the prince decides to seek bunnies
elsewhere
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YE OLDE PLAYBOY INN
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END OF TALE
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Laws of science are derived using INDUCTIVE
REASONING - they are conclusions drawn from the
patterns we observe in nature

• Consider one more example of inductive reasoning

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?
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Sum of the first 2 2x2
Sum of the first 3 3x3
Sum of the first 4 4x4
Sum of the first 5 5x5
The sum of the first ten odd counting numbers
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Sum of the first 2 2x2
Sum of the first 3 3x3
Sum of the first 4 4x4
Sum of the first 5 5x5
The sum of the first ten odd counting numbers
If you observe the pattern, and conclude that
the sum of the first 10 odd counting numbers is
10x10 then you are using inductive reasoning!
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Inductive reasoning does not always yield a true
conclusion.
Based on observation and experience, some ancient
people concluded that the sun revolved about the
earth.
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However, we cannot know anything about
reality without inductive reasoning!